Automatic valve for draining variable-pressure alarm systems



Oct. 27, 1 925 1,558,624

H. W.'PARK AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR DRAINING VARIABLE PRESSURE ALARM sys'rsus Original Filed Dec. 1, 1921 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

HALFORD W. PAR-K, F SCARSDALE, NEW YORK, ASSIGN'OR TO ROCKWOOD SPBINKLER COMPANY OF MASSACHUSETTS, O'F WORCESTEB', MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR DRAINING VARIABLE-PRESSURE ALARM SYSTEMS.

Application filed December 31, 1921, Serial No. 526,429. Renewed March13, 1925.

To all whom it may concern:

Be known that I, I-IALroRD lV. PARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scarsdale, in the county of Westchester and State of New York, have invented a new and useful AutomaticValve for Draining Variable-Pressure Alarm Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an automatic device for controlling the supply and discharge of water under pressure for operating an alarm or the like;

The principal objects. of the invention are to provide means which will insure that when the alarm valve check lifts from its seat all the water discharged through the pipe and spaces connecting the annular port of the alarm valve with the alarm actuating mechanism will be utilized for alarm purposes, without waste, and to provide means which will insure that when the check closes, the water thereby left trappel in the alarm valve system will be drained forthwith leaving the alarm valve connecting pipe and spaces in their normally empty condition and thusautomatically ready for further operation; to provide a construction in which, al-

' though both of the above objects are attained,-no alarm will result from theuncovering of the annular port as the effect of mere water hammers transmitted to the alarm valve through the water in'the sys tem; to provide a systemin which there are nomovlng parts: except a float valve, nothing to create friction and nothing to cor-. rode; and to provide these features in such 7 23 due to the fact that thepipe to the suc- ,tion chamber is connected to the flow pipe Further objects and advantages of the inform as to be practically applicable to a fire sprinkler system.

vention willappear hereinafter.

Reference is to behad to the; accompanythe flow of water through the'pipe 17 to sound the gong when the valve 10 opens. This invention involves means by which all the water that flows by the valve 10 through the pipe 13 will be delivered into the pipe 17 and alarm motor system withoutwaste and when the alarm valve 10 closes again the water will immediately discharge into the atmosphere at a rapid rate.

Extending downwardly from the pipe 13 into the bottom of a suction chamber 23 is a chamber 21 shown in the form of a pipe. In these chambers 21 and 23 is a body of heavy liquid, preferably, mercury 24, which, when there is no pressure, will come to the same level in the two chambers. Floating in the mercury inthe chamber 23 is a float 27 which can be made of cast iron, weighted with lead, if desired, and pro vided with a. valve 29 at the top. Just above this valve is a valve seat 26, having a large port 30 through it. This port communicates with a discharge pipe 32 at the top for discharging water from the system into the open air.

Also communicating with thetop of the suction chamber 23 there is a pipe 33 leading into the pipe 13. At the top of this, in the pipe 13 just at the pressure side of the pipe 33, there is a thin partition plate or obstruction 35 having a restricted orifice 34.

hen water 1s flowing through the pipe 13, its full pressure will be exerted on the mercury in the pipe 21. There will, however, be less pressure on the suction chamber Therefore as is well understood, under cer tam condltions as to pressure, s1ze of pipe and size of orifice, there will be a partial vacuum just beyond the plate. This difference in pressure is used to operate the valve 29 by the rise of the mercury in the chamber 23.

' W hen the clapper of the main alarm valve 1s shut andthe system is drained there is "cry little hydrostatic pressure on the surfaces of the mercury in the two chambers 21 and 23 and what there is is equal, so these surfaces are at the same elevation. The valve 29 therefore remains in its lowest position lear ing the port 30 open to the atmosphere.

'lVhenever the valve 10 opens and the water starts to. flow into the pipe 18, the

action of this iiow of water imbalances the pressure in the two chambers 21 and 23 in two ways. The unbalancing ot' the pressure is caused by two forces assisting each other. The first force is the difference in the hydrostatic pressure on the two chambers. The pressure on the mercury on the pipe 21 is greater than the pressure on that in the suction chamber because the former is a closed chamber while the latter is open to the atmosphere. The second force is the difi'erence in pressure on the two chambers due to the reduced flow through the orifice 34. The velocity of the water through the .pipe 13 causes a reduction in pressure. on

the pipe 33 connected to the float chamber which reduction in presure is transmitted to the surface of the mercury. Either the .di'iierente in the force the hydrostatic heads alone, or the difference in velocity head alone willcause the float to rise. The valve having once risen it will remain on the valve seat holding the. port 30 closed as long as water is flowing in thepipe.

As soon as the water flow stops, however,

the difference in velocity heat disappears and the hydrostatic heads on the two chambers become equal, as long as the valve 29 is closed, so that the mercurv in each chamber falls back to the original levels.

Then the only force holding the float up to thevalve seat is the hydrostatic pressure'due to the head of water from the water motor acting on the port 30. The cast iron weight is heavy enough so that this head will not support it and it falls back into its original 17 is filling the force holding the float valve on its seat continually increases until the maximum force is obtained when the p1pe to the water motor nozzle is completely filled.

If there should be a slight leak around the valve 29 while seated it would not atfect the operation of the alarm.. It is to be noted that there are no moving parts in the device except the float and nothing to present any friction or to make itpossible for the parts to corrode or fail to operate.

It depends solely and directly upon the laws of hydrostatics.

A diaphragm or other equivalent device can be substituted for the mercury .as set forth in'the claims. i

Although I have illustrated anddescribed only a single form of the invention. I am aware of the fact that "modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from-the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited toall the details of construction herein shown and described but what I do claim is 1. In an alarm system, the combination with an alarm motor and a ,pipe for conducting water thereto, of a restricted orifice within said pipe, a chamberv below the pipe communicating at the top with said pipe close to the low pressure side of said orifice and constituting a suction chamber and having an outlet port, the bottom of said chamber communicating with the pipe on the other side oi the orifice, a valvein the suction chamber adapted to rise therein and close the port, and means for transmitting the variation in pressure due to the velocity of water past the restricted opening to the top and bottom of said chamber and to said valve to cause it to be elevated and seated.

2. In analarm system, the combination with an alarm adaptedto be operated bythe flow of water thereto, means for conducting water to the alarm comprising. a conduit, an outlet connected with saidiconduit, a valve for closing said outlet, means'for operating the valve, said conduit-havingan obstruction therein provided with a restricted orifice whereby suction is produced just beyond the orifice when water flows through the conduit to the alarm, and means whereby the. suction is transmitted to the valve to close and hold it closed while the at r s fi i f- 3. In a. device of t echaracter described, the combination with .a conduit for conducting water to a water motor, of an obstruction across said conduit having a restricted orifice through it, two communicating chambers 'below the conduit, each communicating with the conduit on'opposite sides of said obstruction and having a body of heavy liquid therein, one of said chambers constituting a pressure chamber communicating with the conduit on the side 01 said obstruction toward the source of pressure in the conduit, the other chamber having an outlet opening at the top and also communicating withithe conduit on the other side of said'obstruction, and-a valve inthe second chamber floating on the liquid thereinadaptedto rise therein and close the port, whereby the suction due to the velocity of water through the orifice at the top'of the suction chamber will act on the heavy liquid to cause said valve to be seated.

l. In a device of the character described, the combination with a conduit for conducting water to a water motor, of an obstruction in said conduit having a restricted orifice, two chambers below the conduit each communicating with the con duit on one side of said obstruction, and communicating with each other at the bottom one of said chambers constituting a pressure chamber and the other a suction chamber, a body of mercury in the two chambers, and a valve in the second chamber floating on the mercury and adapted to rise therewith and close the port.

5. In a device of the character described,- the combination with a pipe for conducting water to a water motor, of an obstruction extending across said pipe and having a restricted orifice therethrough, two chambers below the pipe, each communicating with it on one side of saidobstruction, one of said chambers connected with the pipe on the pressure side oi the obstruction con stituting a pressure chamber, the other chamber having an outlet opening at the top and also communicating with the pipe on the other side of said obstruction at a point close to the plate, a valve in the second chamber adapted to rise therein and close the outlet port, and movable means in the two chambers for moving the valve up and down in accordanc with any difference in pressure in them.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

HALFORD l/V. PARK. 

